Berm-forming apparatus



United States Patent [72] Inventor Edgar L. Carpenter 330 Empire Ave.,Modesto, California 95351 [21] AppLNoi 750,087 [22] Filed Aug.5,1968[45] Patented Nov.24, 1970 [54] BERM-FORMING APPARATUS 17 Claims, 5Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 94/46 [51] lnt.Cl ..E01c 19/48 [50] FieldofSearch 94/44,46

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,541,547 2/1951 Robinson94/46 2,623,446 12/1952 Clark 94/46 2,707,422 5/1955 Canfield 94/462,848,930 8/1958 Thompson... 94/44 3,015,261 1/1962 MacDonald. 94/44X3,053,156 9/1962 Jennings 94/46 Primary Exam iner- Jacob L. NackenoffAttorney-Gardner & Zimmerman ABSTRACT: Apparatus for constructing anasphalt berm or the like along a roadway. The apparatus is pulled alongsuch roadway by a truck or other vehicle to which it may be attached, anit includes a hopper adapted to receive a supply of hot flowable asphalttherewithin. Communicating with the hopper is a belt-type conveyor thatis transversely oriented and transports such flowable material from thehopper to an open receiver equipped at the rear end thereof with a mold.As the apparatus moves forwardly, the asphalt material discharged by theconveyor into the receiver is engaged by the mold which forms thematerial into the desired configuration while laying it along the roadway.

/15//2 57 l i i Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,541,933

Sheet 1 of 2 4 r 9 F 21 1 1, 15 1c INVENTOR.

Edgar L. Carpenter Attorneqs BERM-FORMING APPARATUS This inventionrelates to berm-forming apparatus and, more particularly, to a vehicularapparatus and adapted to traverse a ground surface and construct anasphalt berm or the like therealong.

Berms are well known structures used in various environments for anumber of purposes such as to control the flow of runoff water along aslope or incline, and a particular form of berm having a somewhatcurblike configuration is often used along highways and other roadwaysto control the runoff of water therefrom. In view of the prevalent useof such roadway berms, various types of apparatus are in existence forconstructing the same; and an object, among others, of the presentinvention is to provide an improved apparatus for constructing anasphalt berm or the like along a roadway.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of berrn formingapparatus in which a belt-type conveyor transports heated asphalt orother flowable material from an open hopper to an open receiver fromwhich the material is confined, shaped, and somewhat compressed by amold and is deposited thereby along such roadway.

Still another object is that of providing an improved apparatus of thecharacter described which is structurally simple, relatively inexpensiveand requires little maintenance yet is effective to construct withfacility a berm of well defined configuration and long lastingcomposition along a roadway or other ground surface traversed by theapparatus.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention, especially asconcerns particular features and characteristics thereof, will becomeapparent as the specification proceeds to describe the specificembodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. is a top plan view of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view in elevation of the apparatus looking generallyfrom the bottom toward the top as the apparatus is seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of the apparatus, certain componentsthereof being shown in section, looking generally from the left towardthe right as the apparatus is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a broken, longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4-4ofFIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, broken vertical sectional view taken along theline 5-5 of FIG. 3.

The berm-forming apparatus illustrated in the drawings is designated inits entirety with the numeral and as shown best in FIG. 3, it includes ahopper section. II and a forming or laying section I2. The apparatus 10is adapted to be transported along a ground surface which, for example,may be a roadway or the like; and in this respect, it is intended to bepulled by a truck or other self-propelled vehicle and is there foreequipped at the forward end thereof with hitches or connectors l3 and14, which may be completely conventional for releasably interconnectingthe apparatus with such vehicle. Evidently, the apparatus could bemotorized and constitute a self-propelled vehicle able to traverse aground surface under its own power.

The apparatus 10 and sections 11 and 12 thereof comprise frame structuregenerally denoted in its entirety with the numeral 15, and the hoppersection 11 defines a hopper 16 mounted upon the frame structure andadapted to receive a flowable material therewithin such as hot asphalt,mixed concrete, etc., which is solidifiable to form a rigid structureafter being laid or constructed along a ground surface. As respects thepresent invention, the particular material used (ordinarily asphalt) maybe conventional and, therefore, no specific elaboration thereof isnecessary. As is customary, the hopper I6 is defined in part by upwardlyextending walls and has an inclined bottom wall 17 that causes suchflowable material to be directed toward the outlet opening I8 of thehopper.

The hopper and discharge opening 18 thereof are transversely disposedwith respect to the apparatus and direction of movement thereof (fromright to left as viewed in FIG. 3), and the flowable material containedwithin the hopper is deposited through such opening I8 onto conveyormechanism I9. The conveyor mechanism includes an endless belt 20entrained at opposite ends thereof about rollers or drums 21 and 22which are journaled for rotation by axle and bearing structure in theusual manner. The belt may be made of any suitable material such asfabric, reinforced or otherwise, or it may be of flexible metalconstruction. Again as respects the precise characteristics of theconveyor belt 2|], any standard material and construction customary inthis environment may be used.

The drum or roller 22 is an idler, but the drum 21 is driven by meansofa sprocket 23 mounted upon the shaft of the drum 21 and constrainedwith respect thereto so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween.Entrained about the sprocket 23 is an endless chain 24 which is alsoentrained about a drive sprocket 25 mounted upon the output shaft of agear reducer 26 which has an input sprocket 27 driven by an endlesschain 28 entrained thereabout. The chain 28 is also entrained about theoutput sprocket 29 of an engine 30 mounted upon the frame structure 15of the apparatus. The engine 30 may be an ordinary gasoline engine; andclutch mechanism may be included to enable the engine 30 to bedisengaged selectively from the conveyor mechanism 19. Such clutchmechanism is shown generally at 304 in FIG. I and is equipped with ahandle 30b to enable manual manipulation thereof. As shown most clearlyin FIG. I, the endless belt 20 extends entirely along the outlet 18 ofthe hopper l6, and is therefore transversely disposed with respect tothe direction of travel of the apparatus.

Mounted upon the frame structure I5 of the apparatus adjacent one sidethereof is a receiver 31 in open communication with the conveyor 19adjacent the discharge end thereof. The receiver 31 constitutes agenerally rectangular compartment open at its forward end and definedessentially by a transverse rear wall 32, outer longitudinal wallstructure 33 and inner longitudinal wall structure 34. The longitudinalwall structures 33 and 34 terminate a spaced distance above the level ofthe ground surface, generally denoted 35 in FIGS. 3 and 4, and they maybe equipped therealong with depending seal structure 36 bolted theretoand which is adapted to ride upon or in close proximity to such groundsurface, as shown in FIG. 4. The seal structure 36 may take any suitableform and, for example, may be a fabric, fiber or other component whichis readily replaceable and is bolted or otherwise releasably to theassociated wall structure along the lower edge thereof.

The wall structures 33 and 34 are rigidly connected at their rear endsto the rear wall 32; and at its forward end the wall 33 is pivotallysupported at 37 by a pair of brace members 38 and 39 that are welded orotherwise fixedly secured to the frame structure 15. The wall structure34 at its forward end is pivotally secured at 40 to the frame structure15.

The receiver 31 at its rear or trailing end is equipped with a mold 41that is longitudinally extending and as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5, isof somewhat inverted U-shaped configuration having a top wall 42extending rearwardly and downwardly from the wall 32 of the receiver anda pair of de pending side walls 43 and 44 converging inwardly andrearwardly from the wall 32. Accordingly, the mold space or cavity 45defined by the top wall 42 and depending side walls 43 and 44progressively decreases in volume in both vertical and transversedirections from the infeed or forward end 46 thereof which is in opencommunication with the receiver 31 through the wall 32 thereof towardits terminal end 47 from which the formed berm is discharged. The moldalso includes bottom wall segments 48 and 49 which are transverselydisposed and project laterally in opposite directions from therespectively associated depending walls 43 and 44. The wall segments 48and 49 are ordinarily disposed in close juxtaposition to the groundsurface 35 being traversed by the apparatus, and they terminate inupwardly extending components defining a generally perimetric(three-sided) wali structure 50.

The wall structure 50 adjacent the entrance end 46 of the mold is weldedor otherwise rigidly attached to the wall 32 of the receiver 31, and atits rear end the wall structure 50 is rigidly attached to an upwardlyextending hanger 51. At its upper end, the hanger 51 is rigidly securedto a channelshaped support 52 which is generally rectangular in crosssection (as shown in FIG. and extends forwardly to and is secured to thewall 32 ofthe receiver 31. The wall structure 50 of the mold 41 isfurther attached to the longitudinally disposed support 52 by a pair ofintermediate struts 53 and 54 which angle upwardly from the wallstructure 50 at about the midpoint of the mold and inwardly to thesupport 52.

Operative between the frame structure and support 52 to adjust anddetermine the general elevation of the mold 41 are motor means in theform of fluid-energized piston-cylinder structures 55 and 56 disposed inlongitudinally spaced relation, as shown most clearly in P16. 3. Thecylinders of the motor means 55 and 56 are pivotally connected to theframe structure 15 by bifurcated fasteners or clevises 57 and 58,respectively; and the rod-equipped pistons of such motor means arepivotally connected to the support 52 by bifurcated fasteners orclevises 59 and 60, respectively. A helical tension spring 61 attachedat one end to the frame structure 15 and at its other end to the support52 resiliently biases the mold 41, and receiver 31, upwardly about theaxes respectively defined by the aforementioned pivotal connections 37and 40. As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame structure 15 comprisesa pair of angularly disposed brackets 62 and 63 to which the motor means55 and 56 are pivotally connected, respectively, at their upper ends viathe clevises 57 and 58.

The fluid motor means 55 and 56 may be hydraulically energized by a pump(not shown) driven by the engine 30 and which supplies fluid underpressure to a distribution manifold 64 connected by valves 65 and 66 andconduits 67 and 68, respectively, to the motor means 55 and S6. Thevalves 65 and 66 are respectively equipped with manually manipulatablehandles (as shown in H0. 1), and suitable adjustment thereof controlsenergization of the motor means to positively dis place the mold 41downwardly or to permit it to be elevated by the resilient forceimparted thereto by the spring 61. An additional valve 69 associatedwith the manifold 64 controls the supply of fluid to a conduit 70 whichmay be used for various purposes such as to control the position of thehitches 13 and 14.

The apparatus 10 is equipped with means for rollingly supporting thesame upon a ground surface, and in the particular form shown theapparatus includes tread mechanisms 71 and 72 (F108. 1 and 2) associatedwith the laying section 12. The tread mechanisms 71 and 72 areconventional devices as are the wheels 73 and 74; and in each instance,they are rotatably supported via intermediate structural members by theframe structure 15.

In use of the apparatus 10, it is attached by the hitches 13 and 14 to atruck or other vehicle which is then used to advance the apparatus alonga ground surface to be equipped with a berm which, as indicatedhereinbefore, may be an asphalt berm constructed along a roadway. Theberm may have any necessary and unusual dimensions and, by way ofspecific illustration, a typical berm may have a base width of about 10inches, a top width of about 6 inches and a height ap proximating 2inches. 1n such case, the mold 41 adjacent the exit end 47 thereof wouldhave a trapezoidal configuration comprising such dimensions. Theapparatus as viewed in FIG. 3 will be advanced toward the left, and asuitable supply of berm-forming flowable material, such as heatedasphalt, will be provided within the hopper 16.

The engine 30 is started and the clutch 30a engaged to energize theconveyor 19-the belt of which is operative to travel from right to left(as viewed in FlGS. l and 2) to transport the flowable material from thehopper 16 to the receiver 31. The discharge of material from theconveyor into the receiver may take the general form showndiagrammatically by broken lines in FIG. 4, and as the apparatusprogressively moves from right to left such material is depositedthrough the mold 41 onto the ground surface 35 to form a bermtherealong, which berm is generally indicated at 75 in this FIG. Withinthe receiver 31, the side walls 33 and 34 thereof confine the flowablematerial laterally which is otherwise essentially unconstrained and isunder atmospheric pressure. However, as the apparatus 10 traverses theground surface 35, the mass of flowable material within the receiver 31is engaged by the mold 41 which forms the material into the desiredconfiguration and at the same time tends to compact the material becauseof the tapered configuration of the mold which causes a downwardlydirected force to be imparted to such mass of material.

The elevation of the mold 41 can be manually adjusted to permit it toaccommodate irregularities and other changes in elevation of the surfacealong which the berm 75 is being constructed by suitable adjustment ofthe valves 65 and 66. In this respect, and as explained heretofore, themold 41 and receiver 31 swing upwardly and downwardly about the axes 37and 40 upon energization of the motor means 55 and 56; and although themotor means positively displace the mold and receiver downwardly in aclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 3), the mold and receiver areresiliently drawn upwardly (when the motor means permit) by the spring61 to the limit defined by the adjustment of the motor means.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention hasbeen set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a completedisclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatnumerous changes may be made in such details without departing from thespirit and principles ofthe invention.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for constructing a berm or the like from a solidifiablematerial in a ilowable condition, comprising frame structure equippedwith means supporting the same for rolling engagement with a groundsurface, a hopper mounted upon said frame structure for receiving asupply of such flowable material, a receiver carried by said framestructure and having at the rear end thereof a mold defining theconfiguration of such berm, conveyor mechanism extending between saidhopper and receiver for transporting such material therebetween, drivemechanism for actuating said conveyor mechanism to effect such transportof flowable material thereby, said receiver and mold being rigidlyinterrelated and said receiver being pivotally connected adjacent theforward end thereof to said frame structure, spring means resilientlybiasing said mold and receiver upwardly about such pivotal connection ofsaid receiver with said frame structure and mechanism connected withboth said frame structure and mold for displacing the mold downwardlyabout such pivotal connection of said receiver against the biasing forceof said spring means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said conveyor mechanism istransversely disposed with respect to the direction of movement of saidapparatus along such ground surface and includes an endless belt uponwhich such material is transported.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said hopper is in opencommunication with said conveyor mechanism substantially from end to endthereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said receiver and mold are locatedalong one side of said frame structure, said conveyor mechanismcommunicating adjacent one end thereof with said receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said receiver, hopper and conveyorbelt are all open to atmosphere 6. The apparatus of claim 1 in whichsaid mechanism for displacing said mold comprises fluid motor meanspivotally connected with both said frame structure and mold and beingoperative therebetween.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said mold has an in verted somewhatU-shaped configuration comprised of a top wall inclining downwardly anddepending side walls inclining inwardly from said receiver toward theterminal end of said mold to progressively confine and compact theflowable material being deposited along such ground surface through saidmold 8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said receiver is open toatmosphere.

9. The apparatus of claim I in which said drive mechanism includes anengine mounted upon said frame structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means supporting said framestructure includes wheels adapted to rollingly traverse such groundsurface.

ll. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said conveyor mechanism istransversely disposed with respect to the direction of movement of saidapparatus along such ground surface and includes an endless belt uponwhich such material is transported.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which said hopper is in opencommunication with said conveyor mechanism substantially from end to endthereof.

13. Apparatus for constructing a berm or the like from a solidifiablematerial in a flowable condition, comprising frame structure equippedwith means supporting the same for rolling engagement with a groundsurface, a hopper mounted upon said frame structure for receiving asupply of such flowable material. a receiver carried by said framestructure and having at the rear end thereof a mold defining theconfiguration of such berm. conveyor mechanism extending between saidhopper and receiver for transporting such material therebetween, drivemechanism for actuating said conveyor mechanism to effect such transportof flowable material thereby, mechanism for adjusting the elevation ofsaid mold relative to said frame structure and to any such groundsurface being traversed thereby, said mechanism for elevating said moldcomprising fluid motor means connected with both said frame structureand mold and being operative therebetween, said receiver and mold beingrigidly interrelated and said receiver being pivotally connectedadjacent the forward end thereof to said frame structure, and springmeans resiliently biasing said mold and receiver upwardly about suchpivotal connection of said receiver with said frame structure, saidmotor means comprising a plurality of piston-cylinder structurespivotally connected with said frame and with said mold for displacingthe mold downwardly about such pivotal connection of said receiveragainst the biasing force of said spring means.

14. Apparatus for constructing a berm or the like from a solidifiablematerial in a flowable condition, comprising frame structure equippedwith means supporting the same for rolling engagement with a groundsurface, a hopper mounted upon said frame structure for receiving asupply of such flowable material, a receiver carried by said framestructure and having at the rear end thereof a mold defining theconfiguration of such berm, conveyor mechanism extending between saidhopper and receiver for transporting such material therebetween, drivemechanism for actuating said conveyor mechanism to effect such transportof flowable material thereby, said conveyor mechanism being transverselydisposed with respect to the direction of movement of said an paratusalong such ground surface and including an endless belt upon which suchmaterial is transported, mechanism for adjusting the elevation of saidmold relative to said frame structure and to any such ground surfacebeing traversed thereby, said hopper being in open communication withsaid conveyor mechanism substantially from end to end thereof, saidmechanism for elevating said mold comprising fluid motor means connectedwith both said frame structure and mold and being operativetherebetween, said receiver and mold being located along one side ofsaid frame structure, said conveyor mechanism communicating adjacent oneend thereofwith said receiver, said receiver and mold being ri idlinterrelated and said receiver being pivotally connecte ad jacent theforward end thereof to said frame structure, and spring meansresiliently biasing said mold and receiver upwardly about such pivotalconnection of said receiver with said frame structure, said motor meanscomprising a plurality of piston-cylinder structures pivotally connectedwith said frame and with said mold for displacing the mold downwardlyabout such pivotal connection of said receiver against the biasing forceof said spring means.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which said mold has an invertedsomewhat U-shaped configuration comprised of a top wall incliningdownwardly and depending side walls inclining inwardly from saidreceiver toward the terminal end of said mold to progressively confineand compact the flowahle material being deposited along such groundsurface through said mold.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which said receiver, hopper andconveyor are all open to atmosphere.

17. The apparatus of claim l6 in which said drive mechanism includes anengine mounted upon said frame structure.

